-14-

Even though it doesn't feel like spring outside, spring cleaning sure has begun in my house. I went home for a bit and helped my parents out. It was so fun to reminisce, looking through old pictures I had drawn, journals I had kept and the strange things I collected, (A Star Wars sticker book and Milk Ads seemed to be my thing.)

Everyone loves a man in uniform

I found pictures of myself when I was little sitting with my grandpa, Stanley. The pictures really made me miss him. He passed away not too long ago but it feels like I haven't seen him in ages. I started looking around my house at other pictures of him and I think my favorite one is his portrait from when he was in the Navy. He was incredibly handsome and seeing him in his uniform inspired me to start dreaming up a nautical menswear collection. In my head, the ideas seemed so cool! On paper, however, the men looked like the village people meets Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid meets the ad for Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Male. I'll make it work but like I said, the pictures made me miss him a whole lot. I think I got my knack for collecting things from him, (I am not a hoarder... I SWEAR!)
He loved his family, could house-break any animal, was a pro at giving directions and had talent for story telling.
My favorite story he would tell is when he first met my grandma, Rose. They instantly fell in love, and from that day on, she was his princess.
Everyone who knew him loved him and even if you heard his stories 5 times before, they never seemed to get old, just made you love them even more.
Love you to pieces Gramps-

Respect Your Elders

I'll Never Smile Again, Frank Sinatra

Begin the Beguine, Artie Shaw

Hey There, Rosemary Clooney

Shake, Rattle and Roll, Elvis Presley (I strongly suggest you watch the entire video)

-13-

For those days you just want to stay in bed. Unfortunately, the constant ring of my roommates alarm is forcing me awake from my rather pleasant slumber. Even more unfortunate, it doesn't seem to be waking her up!

Outside there are overcast skies and it's just windy enough that you need a jacket to be comfortable. There are some places where cloudy skies are beautiful, however, the city looks pretty dismal when everything is gray.

I'm generally a morning person, but today I don't want to be. Projects to work on, books to read and possibly a trip to the gym.

But hey, everything could be worse.

I spent the night at Sam's apartment and we ate all the food left over from my mom's photo shoot: spinach salads with cranberries, rosemary, walnuts, gorgonzola cheese and Italian dressing, thin sliced focaccia bread and grilled asparagus, eggplant and zucchini. We topped the meal off with an assortment of  dark chocolates, one of which was lavender, (changed my life) different sodas, (Sam had organic rootbeer, and black cherry. I had pomegranate ginger ale and lemon lime) and finally keenwah crackers. It is actually spelled quinoa but people do no know how to pronounce it, so the brand is spelled the way it sounds. We watched Water for Elephants, listened to great music, (I played her all the covers from post 11) and we became completely entranced by the amazing smell of the fresh rainfall coming through her window. Sounds cheesy but it's so nice.

I didn't even mind walking in the rain

Listen up

Champagne Supernova, Matt Pond PA

I Will Follow You Into the Dark, Death Cab For Cutie

Giving Me a Chance, Gotye

Starálfur, Sigur Rós

-12-

Just my mumsie and me '91

This next post is for my mom. I tell her everything and I love that I have that sort of relationship with her. She's creative, smart and although she thinks I always make fun of her, it's just cause she is a mom and that's what we do. She has love for all things lady and has an excellent sense of style. Her favorite things are Mad Men, Love Actually, Sister Sledge, (apparently she spent a  week with them at Club Getaway) photography, fashion, New York City and of course my dad and me. She has a very generous heart, an open mind and a caring soul.
I feel very lucky to call her my mom.

Take a Listen to these

Jump for my Love, The Pointer Sisters

Higher Love, Steve Winwood

Dreams, Fleetwood Mac

Take Me Home -Phil Collins

Love Actually

The Met

Don

-11-

Just a quick little music post, enjoy.

covers, covers, covers

Your Love, Justin Vernon...The guy from Bon Iver (Originally by The Outfield)
Dearest, The Black Keys (Originally by Buddy Holly)

Skinny Love, Birdy (Originally by Bon Iver)

1901, Birdy (Originally by Phoenix)

Birdy

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Greg Laswell (Originally by Cyndi Lauper)

Crazy, Ray Lamontagne (Originally by Gnarls Barkley)

You Really Got A Hold On Me, She and Him (Originally by Percy Sledge)
No one's Gonna Love you, Cee Lo Green  (Originally by Band of Horses)
Higher Love, James Vincent McMorrow (Originally by Steve Winwood)

-10-

--> I have totally been slacking on this whole blog bit, but today we make a change! I am really, really, REALLY going to try and get into a routine of doing it everyday… and by everyday I mean every week.

I have literally been up to my eyeballs in work. School tends to feel like quicksand, you just get pulled deeper and deeper in and just when you think you’ve shaken one limb free…I don’t know…you’re still screwed cause you’re in QUICK SAND! Okay, okay, maybe it’s not quicksand more like a flytrap. The sticky ones that hang from the ceiling and flies get stuck in them and die. I’ve seen a girl get stuck on one-not pretty. Besides, school is supposed to be tough but I just keep telling myself, one more year, one more year-it’s become my mantra.

However, my life does not just consist of me wallowing in my sorrows, full of self-pity by the amount of homework I have. There is some good in my life. No, not good, GREATNESS!

I was introduced to two wonderful gentlemen through a friend. They had a vision that they wanted to start a brand that represented our generation. Their names are Matt and Brian Bank, two brothers who happen to sit at the top of my favorite people list. They are smart, funny and have incredible heads of hair, (eat your heart out Beiber). The boys discussed their vision for the brand and explained its back-story. The brand is called NAKD Apparel and it stands for Never Attempt Killing Dreams. They started saying it when they were younger and it sort of grew into their motto. NAKD is an homage to all the dreamers, the driven, the hopeless romantics, the individuals and the people just trying to make it. They want their clothes to grow with the customer and be worn by virtually anyone. They have bright color pallets but also neutral tones that cater to boys, girls, men and women.

Matt and Brian are extremely hardworking and steadfast in raising this NAKD baby, and I most definitely see great success in their future. Although they have just a few t–shirts and tanks to their name, NAKD already has growing fan base at Penn State University and is making moves across the Unite States. NAKD is loved by so many and I feel so fortunate to be part of the NAKD team!  
Keep an eye on their site because you never know when new stuff may appear!

Listen to these! (It’s Friday! Get hyped)

Back in the Day, Ahmad

Express Yourself, NWA (rip EAZY E)

Paranoid, Kanye West

11h30, Danger (skip through the first 15 seconds)

Calabria 2007, Enur